Before I started searching for the best watering can, I kind of just thought that a watering can was a watering can. You fill the thing with water, then pour the water over your plants and thatās that. Sure, Iāve had a few really bad ones that lasted only a single summer, but they were cheap, I knew they were cheap and at the time wasnāt willing to spend more than a few bucks on something so banal anyway.
Iām ready to admit I was wrong. To find the best watering cans for all of your indoor and outdoor plant watering needs, I thoroughly tested nine highly rated metal and plastic models under $50. And once I started using different cans on different types of outdoor plants (and a few houseplants), I quickly noticed how easy or hard they were to fill, how they felt in my hand, and how well they distributed water. And it turns out that a really nice watering can is absolutely worth $30 or $40 (though you donāt have to spend that much to get a good one), especially because it's easily one of the most important gardening tools in your arsenal if you grow your own food (hoses are important tooāread our best garden hose review here). Read on for my top picks. To see how I tested watering cans and what I looked for, scroll down further.
The best outdoor watering can: XXXFlower 1.5-Gallon Lightweight Deluxe Outdoor Watering Can
I almost didnāt order the XXXFlower 1.5-Gallon Lightweight Deluxe Outdoor Watering Can because I was skeptical of a garden product with such a porny name. But Iām so glad I decided to try it because itās absolutely the best watering can I tested. Itās almost as if whoever designed it considered every complaint anyone has ever made about watering cans and solved each one. Some Amazon reviewers have even compared it to the much pricier Haws watering can.
A typical problem with plastic watering cans is that a single handle often covers the fill hole, but this watering can has two handles and neither blocks the holeāthough the hole does have a vented cover to help keep leaves, grass clippings, and little critters out. Because it isnāt too bulbous or wide (itās shaped more like a plastic gas can than a plastic watering can) filling this can at the spigot is very easy. It doesnāt have a detachable sprinkler head exactly, but it does have a long spout thatās detachable and adjustable (you can turn it 180Āŗ to change the direction of the spray). But itās still easy to clean because the end of the sprinkler head is actually a cap that pops on and off. That cap is what really makes this can so great too because it has lots of tiny holes, resulting in a full but fine spray that fans out beautifully when pouring (perfect for delicate plants!). This can is comfortable to hold and carry, and even when itās filled with water it feels well balanced.
I have no complaints about this watering can (save for its porny name, which is honestly starting to grow on me), though some gardeners may prefer a fill hole thatās more than 2.5" wide.
The best indoor watering can: Etarewilt Ā½-Gallon Watering Can
If you prefer something small and lightweight, the Etarewilt Ā½-Gallon Watering Can is a solid small watering can that comes in three different colors and has a half-gallon capacity (it holds about 60 ounces of water). While itās too small to use efficiently in an outdoor garden, itās a perfect indoor watering can. Like the XXXFlower, the Etarewilt has a long, thin spout and a removable sprinkler head cap that delivers a delicate spray thanks to lots of tiny holes. You can also remove the entire sprinkler head for precise pouring or twist it 180Āŗ to change the direction of the water flow.
Thereās nothing I didnāt love about this little watering can. A few Amazon reviewers have complained about durability, but it feels quite durable to me, especially for something that costs less than $20. This isnāt necessarily something Iād leave outside anyway, but I could see it living in a windowsill near some of my thirstiest indoor plants. It has only one handle, but because itās so small it doesnāt really need a second.
How we tested
After researching watering cans, I settled on nine popular models under $50. Using a spray nozzle attachment on my favorite garden hose, I filled each to capacity, then carried them around my yard to test for balance, spills, and handle comfort. I watered my plants with each and considered how easy or hard it was to hold while pouring. I paid close attention to the spray coming from the can; some were sloppy and aggressive while others were full but delicate. For round two I filled each watering can directly from the spigot attached to my house. I carried them around some more and continued to overwater my already drenched plants. Once Iād decided on a few favorites, I did more side by side comparisons to see which of two cans felt better in my hand when full and which had a better spray.
What we looked for
Is there a steady stream of water from the spout when the can is titled to a comfortable angle? Is the spray too aggressive for certain types of plants? Most of the watering cans I tested came with a spray head (often called a ārose head,ā ārose attachment, ārosette,ā or āsprinkler headā) and I found that sprinkler heads with lots of small holes sprayed much better than heads with fewer, bigger holes. Though I was mainly looking for a full spray, watering cans with removable sprinkler heads got more points because they also allow for precise wateringāand easier cleaning. I also looked at the amount of water coming from the sprinkler head. Too much water too quickly can be bad for delicate plants and succulents (though sometimes just a spray bottle or plant mister is all you need for those).
Does the watering can have ergonomic handles? Does it have more than one handle? Are the handles in a location that makes sense for filling, carrying, and watering plants? Do the handles have any seams or textures that might hurt my hands if Iām not wearing gloves?
Does water slosh out of the fill hole when the can is full? Does water start to pour out of the spout when the water level in the can reaches a certain level? Are there any other noticeable leaks when pouring?
When testing products, I always look for high-quality materials, and going into this I thought Iād end up picking a rust-resistant metal can. My top picks turned out to be plastic easy-pour cans, but not all plastic is created equal and some of the plastic cans were obviously cheaply made.
A larger watering can is generally better for watering outdoor plants and gardens because without enough water, youāre going to have to make too many trips back to the spigot. But you also donāt want something too big and unwieldy. For outdoor plant watering, I looked for cans that held between one and two gallons of water.
Other watering cans we tested
If youāve seen a basic metal watering can on the shelf at your local hardware store, thereās a very good chance itās the Behrens 2-Gallon Steel Watering Can. This sturdy can is made from rust-resistant galvanized steel and because the top handle moves, itās easy to fill the hole on top with a hose or spigot. It will dump some water out of the top when full if youāre not careful when carrying it, but otherwise it works well. While it sprays better than the other metal cans I tested, it didnāt spray as well as my top pick and it lost a few more points for a fixed rose head.
Of the three metal watering cans I tested, the Smith & Hawken Large Steel Iron Watering Can from Target was the only one that had a removable rose head, which makes it easy to cleanābut the head leaks, and not even where it connects to the spout. Aside from the leak, the spray from this watering can is pretty aggressive and sloppy, due to the fact that it has fewer, bigger holes than some of the other cans. While this is an attractive can with a retro green coating, a large capacity (2 gallons), and two comfortable handles (the top one moves for easy access to the fill hole), it looks better than it works.
Youāve probably seen the Union Watering Can with Tulip Design in somebodyās yard or shed at some point in your life. This ubiquitous lightweight plastic watering can is popularāand for good reason. The removable rose head has a nice full spray and it has two handles that donāt block the fill hole. This can might have even been my top pick if it werenāt for the terrible handle design. Both handles are textured for grip, but the ātextureā is cheap and uncomfortable. Worse: A sharp plastic seam on the inside of the top handle makes it painful to carry when filled with two gallons of water (but if you always garden with gloves that may not be an issue).
Gardening, but make it fashion. That pretty much sums up Swedish brand Garden Glory. After being somewhat disappointed with their pricey garden hose, I was skeptical about the diamond-shaped Garden Glory Lightweight Watering Can but it turned out to be pretty great. It has a long spout, a four-liter capacity, and a perfectly round handle that offers plenty of room to fill the can with a hose or at a spigot. In fact, the handle is actually the perfect size and shape to hang on the spigot while the can fills with water, but I imagine thatās probably not good for the spigot itself. No water spilled out when I carried it full and the whole thing felt balanced when pouring. Unfortunately, this watering can doesnāt come with a rose head (shocking, considering itās the most expensive watering can I tested), so itās probably better suited for small potted plants, plants in hanging baskets, or an indoor garden.
The big black Room Essentials 2-Gallon Novelty Watering Can from Target has a two-gallon capacity and a fairly comfortable handle but it felt a little off-balance when I tried to carry it full. For 10 bucks, itās not a bad watering can, but itās not great, either. My biggest problem with this plastic watering can was that the water didnāt fan out of the detachable rose headāit came out straight and the stream moved inward instead of outward.
The Bloem Classic 2-Gallon Watering Can is a versatile plastic watering can with a narrow spout and detachable rose head, which makes it versatile enough to use in a big outdoor garden or with indoor plants. It also boasts āan extra-large filling holeā but this is another instance of the handle covering the hole. The real deal-breaker, though, is that it just doesnāt pour well. The water doesnāt fan out of the rose head and multiple reviewers have complained about leaks.
Yes, the Little Tikes Growing Garden Watering Can is technically for kids, but this cute metal can had such positive reviews from adults that I had to try it. And itās actually a pretty decent little watering can if you just have a few small plants or prefer something small and lightweight. It does have two handles (probably more necessary for kids than adults) and the top handle moves so itās easy to fill from a spigot or faucet. This can doesnāt spray as well as the other mini watering can I tested, though, and the sprinkler head canāt be removed for cleaning. While I canāt enthusiastically recommend it for indoor or outdoor plants (the Etarewilt Ā½-Gallon Watering Can is a better option), it would make a great gift for a childāespecially because it comes with adorable little gardening gloves.
The takeaway
Despite its suggestive name, the XXXFLOWER 1.5-Gallon Lightweight Deluxe Outdoor Watering Can is the best large-capacity watering can for outdoor gardens because itās thoughtfully designed and has a full but delicate spray. If youāre looking for a smaller can to use indoors (or to water a few outdoor plants), the Etarewilt Ā½-Gallon Watering Can is another great long-spout watering can. It has fewer features but itās a modern can thatās comfortable to hold andeasy to fill, with a detachable rosette cap that creates a full spray.
